July is here! We as a nation are one year older. My prayer is that we become closer to letting God have his way in our courts, and in our hearts. There is sure to be more fireworks this year than last, because of COVID. Also in July, I am looking forward to a great time on Saturday July 10th. We are having our men’s conference that morning from 9 a.m. to 12. Iron Sharpens Iron is what we are calling it. I hope to see many fathers and sons relationships restored that morning.
Speaking of father and son relationships, I noticed a young man trying to comfort his son a few Sundays ago at church. The service had not started so at least I knew he was not crying because of my preaching. His father was doing all he could to console the little guy. He was crying so hard, as though he had lost the only friend he had ever had in this world. It was quite the scene. Did I mention that while trying to comfort the little guy who was maybe three years old, this same father was also carrying the boy’s little baby brother? Who says real men don’t go to church? Seeing the father was having problems bringing joy back into his little boy’s life, I decided since I am too a father, and have been one a lot longer than the young man standing in front of me, I’d try to help, so I went over to his son and sat down next to him. I asked him why he was so sad. I didn’t think it was possible but his cries became louder and now he was on the floor his head covered by his hands in the fetal position. I thought to myself, “Yep still got it!” It never ceases to amaze me my ability to make matters worse when it comes to parenting. The young father caught my eye and simply said to me, “He is upset because he couldn’t wear the stripe shirt to church today.” Ah yes, I thought to myself, that notorious striped shirt…that thing we cling to that comes between us and Jesus… we all have something like that shirt. It turns out that the striped shirt was dirty and the father would not let his son come to church wearing a dirty shirt. In our lives we have certain limitations, and they are there for our protection. Many times the striped shirts we lament over were not worth our tears. Think of the times we have cried ourselves to sleep because our boyfriend or girlfriend broke up with us, or we didn’t get that promotion. He knows what is best for us – let’s begin to trust his leading, even when it means we don’t get to wear the striped shirt.
As the music began, I looked back at the little guy and he had stopped crying and had gotten over not having his striped shirt on. May we find our peace today, like that little boy, in our relationship with our Father and not in our dirty striped shirts.